Page 16 of All of You

I take a step back uncertain that I heard what I heard. I look at Delia just in time to catch the spray of pink blossoming across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. She is so goddamn hot. I let out a roaring fit of laughter. In the right circumstances that joke would have landed so god damn well. I can’t stop my chest from heaving with my laugh. Fury twists her features into a scowl before she takes off past me.

I look up to Mom and Jennifer slightly embarrassed.

“Was it something I said?” I ask.

Delia’s mom laughs and shakes her head looking thoroughly amused, her long dark blonde hair dancing with the movement, while my mom skewers me with a withering glare. “Fix it Lang.”

Jennifer puts her hand on my mom’s forearm. “They’re kids. It’ll work itself out.” But my mother is not having it.

With a huff I march my ass out the porch to look for her. I didn’t do anything wrong. What’s a little harmless banter? I did not see her response coming.At all.She’s curled up as if she’s trying to make herself invisible in one of the rocking chairs. When she sees me, the way she glares at me with such hatred stabs my chest.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to, uh, embarrass you.”

She crinkles her nose. Her eyes soften at me but I’m fixated on her lips which look even softer. A little smile curves her mouth. I lick my bottom lip wishing she was still pressed against me. A vision of her sprawled across my bed, naked, flashes in my mind, and I quickly shove it away.

I take a seat in the other rocking chair, relieved to be outside where it’s cooler and there’s a slight breeze.

“Why are you guys even here?” she asks.

“We have dinner here every Sunday.” She is so much prettier in person. I thought her face was stunning through a dirty pane of glass but the whole package, she’s a snack with a capital S. I try to keep my eyes off her.Play it cool, Lang.

“Why?” she pushes.

I rub my hand over my head.Whywas a damn good question. “Well, we’ve been bringing dinner over Sundays since Maeve died. Heath and Maeve helped our family through a tough time a while ago and my mom just took it upon herself to return the favor.”

“It’s been a year, right? Isn’t that long enough?” she huffs out.

“Listen, I’d rather be at the river swimming with my friends, but I’m here. Mom’s house, Mom’s rules.”

Stealing a glance at her profile, I notice she softens. Her slender jaw gives way to a delicate neck milky white and soft. “So you knew my grandparents pretty well?”

I shrug. “I mean yeah I guess. It’s a small ass town, everybody knows everybody.”

“What was she like?” Her breasts rise and fall as she breathes making it really hard to concentrate on anything.What is my deal. I need to get laid, it’s been too long.

“Who? Maeve?” I tear my eyes from her tank top. It’s humid and clings to her leaving little to the imagination. My cock twitches.Down boy.

“Yeah,” she says. There’s a slight wavering in her voice that softens my attitude.

I look out over the yard. The sun is sinking behind the horizon and soon it will just be moonlight. Thinking for a minute I tell her, “Maeve loved comfort foods like meatloaf and mac and cheese, and lasagna, and pints of beer. Kinda weird for a grandmother if you ask me.”

She snorts. “Not to me. Up until a few days ago, I didn’t even know I had living grandparents.”

“What?” I turn my gaze to her. Her eyes lock on mine and I can’t look away.

“Never mind,” she says and blinks, breaking my trance. She tucks an errant strand of dark blonde hair behind her ear.

“You can’t drop a bomb like that and pull a ceasefire,” I say.

“I’m a whole-ass minefield, just wait.” She laughs nervously.

I fold my arms, chin tilting as I lean back in my chair. “Meaning you’re full of surprises?”

A long pause follows. “What’s something you do when you’re nervous?” she asks.

“Wait, what? That’s not an answer.”

She shifts in her seat and the split in her skirt opens up revealing a smooth, toned thigh and I suddenly want nothing more than to reach out and touch it. I pick at the hem of my shirt instead.